Circuit-closing apparatus



CIRCUIT CLOSING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 7, 1927 INVENTOF W BY My ATTORNEYPatented Mar. 10, 1931 J I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LIDO GIOMEI, OFCHICAGO, ILLINOIS CIRCUIT-CLOSING APPARATUS Application filed December7, 1927. Serial No. 238,375.

This invention relates to certain novel im- Fig. 3 is an enlargedsectional view taken provements in circuit closing apparatus and on theline 3-3 on Fig. 2; consists in improvements in such apparatus Fig. 4 isa sectional view taken on the line which is particularly adapted for useon 4-4 on Fig. 3; and 5 automobiles. Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic viewillustrating 50 The salient object of my invention is to the electricalconnections employed in my provide a device of the above named chardevice. I acter which will be particularly adapted for My improvedlighting apparatus includes light-ing the path to be traveled by anautotwo lamp structures and 11 which are 10 mobile when the same isturning a corner. adapted to be disposed at an angle to each 55 At thepresent time the head lights of autoother on the front of a vehicle. Thelamps mobiles are so fixed to the fenders or in align- 10 and 11 arealso adapted to be disposed at ment with the chassis that the lightbeing an angle to the normal course of the vehicle projected therefromremains constantly par such that they will project a light beam either 5allel with the rear wheels of the vehicle and t0 the right or to theleft in order that the 0 therefore when a corner is being turned thispath to he traveled by the vehicle, when turnlight beam is at an angleto the direction of ing a corner, shall be illuminated. The lamps traveland is therefore of little use. 10 and 11 may be mounted in any desiredman- Another object of the invention is to arner such as that depictedin the accompanying range my improved lighting apparatus such drawingswherein a bracket rod 12 is directed 65 that it will function only at atime when across the vehicle and supported from the the vehicle isturning a corner and my apusual head light structures indicated by 13paratus is so disposedand arranged that in the drawings. only thedirection of travel is illuminated. In order to control the operation ofthe A further object of the invention is to prolamps 10 and 11 I providea novel switch 70 vide a control means for my improved lightstructurewhich is adapted to be associated ing apparatus which will be erat d frwith the steering mechanism of the aut0mothe steering mechanism of avehicle of the bllen h c p y g dIZIWIIIgS the H above named charactenIneral 14 is used to generically indicate the oth bj t ill appear h i ftchassis of an automobile. The numeral 15 75 The invention consists inthe novel generically indicates the steering column of bination andarrangement of parts to be here- Such a d numeral 16 indicates theinafter described and claimed connecting rod which is adapted to connectThe invention will be best understood y the front wheels of the vehicleto the toggle arm 17. The tog le arm 17 is mounted on the 80 referinceto the accompaFymg drawmgs spindle 18 which is part of the steeringmechshowtng h preferred form of constructlon anism and which is suitablyconnected to the and.1n Wtnch mechanisms contained within the steeringcol- F1g. 1 IS a fragmental front elevational Hum 5 f of an automobllemb0dy1ng p My improved control apparatus includes 85 tfirred form ofconstructlon for y mventhe disk 20 which is adapted to engage the tlon;toggle arm 17 and is mounted in juxtaposi- Fig. 2 is a side elevationalview depicting tion thereto by removing the nut 19 and plac one mannerof mounting my improved coning the disk 20 in engagement with the toggletrolhng apparatus; arm 17 and then replacing the nut 19. The 00 disk 20includes ears 21 to which the supporting element 22 is secured. Thesupporting element 22 has a ring 23 of insulating material securedthereto and said ring extends outwardly from said supporting element. Asis shown best in Fig. 4 two contact terminals 24 and 25 are mounted inspaced relation in the lower part of the insulating ring 23. It istherefore apparent that since the disk 20 is secured to the toggle arm17 and inasmuch as the ring 23 is supported from the disk 20, that saidring 23 will turn in the direction in which the toggle arm 17 is movedwhich will obviously be in accordance with the direction in which theautomobile is turned.

Supported from asuitable point on the vehicle is a bracket 26 which hasan opening 27 formed in the downwardly extending leg thereof. A bushing28 of.insulatingmaterial is mounted in the opening 27 A cup 29 isprovided which includes lip portions 30 which are disposed aroundthe-insulating ring 23 in order that said ring may freely turn in saidcup 29. Cup 29 has a. central opening 31 formed therein, andacoeoperating opening 32 is provided inthe'wall 33 of. the supportingmember 22. A bushing 34, of insulating material, is mounted in-theopening 31. and abolt- 35 extends through theopening 32, and

the opening in the bushing 34 and'a nut. 36

is mounted on the end, of said bolt and thus the cup 29 is clampedagainst; the edges'of the ring23. An opening 37 isprovided in the hatwall'portionof the cup 29 and a bolt 38 is extended through this openingand a lock nut 39, on thebolt 38, locks the head of said bolt inengagementwiththe flat portion of the cup 29. The belt 38-is extendedthrough-an opening in the bushing'28-and a nut 40 ismountedthereonandthus; the cup 29 issecurely fastened to the bracket26.

An arcua-tecontact.41 has an ear42 formed thereon which is adapted to bedisposed between the head otthe bolt 38-andthe inner 'wall of the cup29-so as to support the arcuate. contact 41 in the. position illustratedin Fig. 4. w

A nut 44 secures theend'ofian electrical conductor 45 betweenthe nut 40and itself,

It is therefore apparent-that one side otan electrical circuit isdirected to the-contact'41 and it is also apparent that the cup 29 ischarged with this sameelcctric circuit'but inasmuch as the cup 29 isinsulated from its supports in the manner described-and since said cupbears against the ring 23'which is of insulating material, it isapparentrthatsaid cup iselec-trically isolated.

Conductors 46 and 47 are connected to the contacts 25 and 24 and saidconductors arealso respectively connected to the lamps in the lampstructures 10 and 11. ductor. 45 is connected to the conductor 48 whichis .directedto the taillampstructure 49 ofthe vehicle. The conductor 48is also connected to the usual ignition and lighting The concontrolswitch indicated by 50 in the drawing, one terminal of this switch beingconnected to the positive terminal of a battery 51 by a conductor 52,the negative terminal of said battery being grounded as indicated at 53in the drawing.

It is apparent that since the cup 29 is supported from the frame of thevehicle it will be stationary and therefore the contact 41 carriedthereby will also be stationary. As has been pointed out the insulatingring 23andtherefore the contacts 24 andt25 move with the toggle; arm.17. whenthe steering mechanism is operated. Therefore when the togglearm 17 moves so as to cause the wheels to direct the vehicle around acorner, either the contact 24 or 25 will be moved into engagement withthe contact 41. If the switch 5.0 is closed a circuit .will be set upfrom the battery 51 through the conductor 52, switch 50, conductor 48,.conductor 45, contact 41, and either contact. 24 or 25.-ianid thereforeeither conductor-47 or=46 will :conductthe current to the lampin eitherthe-lamprstructure 11 or 10 from whence it will passiintoithegrounded:side of; the circuit through which it. will pass back tothe battery; 51;It is apparent that the-contacts 24- 21116125 and the conductors,leadingthere-from :will be arrangedso as to ignitethe lamp directedinthe ing acorner. It. is alsoapparent that lihave formed this device suchthat the mechanism will function only-at aitime when the vehicle isturning ancl=it is: apparent that the device is soarranged-thatiit-xwill operate only in the direction in which thevehicle is to travel;

While I have illustrated-and described the preferredform of constructionfor carrying my invention into efliect, this is capable of variation andmodification, without departingv from the sprit ofathe invention. I;therefore, dov not wish to be limitedto the precise details ofconstruction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variation andmodifications as come within the scope ofthe appended claim. 1

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new. and desire toprotect by Let ters Patentis:

In a switchstructure, a disc mounted on a movable arm, an annularsupporting membercarried bysaiddisc, an annular insulating ring carriedby said supporting member and peripherally extending therefrom, contactsmounted on said insulating ring inaspaced apart relation, a cupincluding a' peripheral flange embracng. the, periphery of:saidinsulating ring, means for stationarily supportingsaid cup carried;by supporting :means for said =movable arn1,;means. providing :an axisand extended throughsa-id supporting.

